Chuang-Tzu

As funny as it sounds, this reading, even with all the “this’s” and “thats” made more sense to me than last week’s Buddhism readings.

We are taught to make sense of things, think, reason, organize, etc. And it all takes a lot of brain power. The Chuang-Tzu reading seems to make some simple suggestions.

• “So he has no use for categories, but relegates all to the constant. The constant is the useful, the useful is the passable; the passable is the successful; and with success, all is accomplished. He relies upon this alone, relies upon it and does not know he is doing so. This is called the Way.”
  
  To sum that up, I think he is saying not to label things certain ways, just accept them as they are, and keep doing what’s working.

• “But to wear out your brain trying to make things into one without realizing that they are all the same – this is called ‘three in the morning.’ ”
  
  Here I think he is saying reality is reality, regardless of the words used. It will all wash in the end, and it is what it is.

• “No one has lived longer than a dead child, and P’eng-tsu died young. Heaven and earth were born at the same time I was, and the ten thousand things are one with me.”
  
  I think he is again talking about realities versus perceived realities. Basically, life is life, and duration does not change the reality of it…the essence of life is universal.

• “The True Man of ancient times knew nothing of loving life, knew nothing of hating death. He emerged without delight; he went back in without a fuss. He came briskly, he went briskly, and that was all. He didn’t forget where he began; he didn’t try to find out where he would end. He received something and took pleasure in it; he forgot about it and handed it back again.”
  
  That is quite simple language, but to me it presents such a beautifully simple yet profound way. As a Christian in America, I have been conditioned to value my life, accept death but not savor it the same way I do life; to look toward the future (degree, career, retirement, etc.) and plan for it and work for it; to sentimentally hang on to that which brings me pleasure. Those all seem like positive, reasonable things. Yet the paragraph above was beautiful and peaceful to me. There is a simple peace in simply living and not getting caught up in the distraction of knowing or doing it all…simply accepting things as they are and living in the moment. (Obviously I know to continue my education, meet with the school counselor to help plan my future, etc. But I think it would be wise to take some down time and have peaceful moments…to just sit and enjoy the moment.)

I really enjoyed the Chuang-Tzu reading. I saw some amazing insights into peaceful living that challenged me personally. As an idealist, I often see how I would like things to be. That can be good, as it can affect positive change. However, it is also important to take a reality check, see things as they are, keep doing what’s working, and live in the moment.